Morning journal and courier., 1887-07-11
THE BLUES.

Howard avenue Methodist Episcopal church |, preached Sunday morning before that con- gregation on a somewhat novel topic, s'The Cause and Cure of the Blues." He chose his text from Psalms All: "Why art thou cast down, o my souls''
 The term 'blues," he said, was strictly colloquisl, though in every day use. "Blue devils, :" however, finds place in Webster's dictionary, denoting, according to that au- tkority, '1owness of spirits" In all lands the malady prevails, and even found it's way into the royal palace of David. Cases of suicide are faithfully chronic1ed by the daily press, showing numerous instances where its victims have rashly and ignorantly sought relief by the pistol, drowning or the poison ous draught.
 Among the causes of melancholy, all physicians declare, are chiefly those that arise from 8 disordered condition of the blood. Especially is this true of diseases situated in the lower organs, including dis | orders of the liver, kidneys and dyspepsia. ! Consumptives, on the contrary, were as 8 rule hopeful to the very last. Over-abused { nerves also complained bitterly of the treat | ment received by them at our hands, and in return punished us with insomnia and ne1v- ous prostration, if not with downright insan- ity. Americans are proverbially the slaves of overwork. Fewer holidays are granted us than are enjoyed by Europeans. No work at all was probably even worse, as multitudes of our fashionable butterflies find who seek to sskill time'' as parlor ornaments at Sara toga, Long Branch, Newport and elsewhere. Sin in any and all forms had ever been the sad source of sorrow. With the united voices of conscience and of the Holy Spirit proclaiming within the citadel of the soul .tthou art weighed in the balance and found wanting," joy. fled aapace-and the raven wings of despair brooded over us. Envy and Jealousy were among the mean- est of sins. The success of others in the at tainment of wealth, office or honor renders many minds miserable. Haman, though next to the king in importance, was unhappy without the obsequious homage of Mordecai. Party politics are largely conducted in this spirit. The 'outs' depreciate and impute bad motives to nearly every official act of the ''ins." Facts are suppressed that would throw fresh light on their accusations, or possibly nullify them absolutely. When the body is filled with the subtle virus known as malaria, our envi- ronments seem to partake of it. New Haven in dense fog presents different aspect to a visitor from the tropics than in 8 clear at- mosphere. Soul malaria, involving unbelief, consciousness and other unpleasant condi- tions of the heart were, alas, too common in our day.
 Fear also produced depression and coward ice. Elijah, after his victory over the false prophets, and Gods signal presence at the burning altar, while the fiery tongue of the flames licked up the water in the trenches, fees before the wicked and idle threat of one woman-Jezebel. God finds him, however, and commands him to resume his iabors. 'fFear bringeth a snare." Some, through fear of death, Paul asserts, ''were all their lifetime subject to bondage"
 Jonah, disappointed because Nineveh was spared, also fled and prayed for death. God sought him out and in the most striking manner convinced him of his folly. The "cure" for ''the blues," or states of melancholy, was to reverse the course of life which produced them. Our sick bodies should be spared and restored to health. h the mad race for wealth we should take more recreation, if possible, temporary change of employment. Idlers should find congenial work and know the luxury of ex- ercise. No organ of the body or endowments of the mind could be overtaxed with impun- ity. We should learn to look on the sunny side of life. A ''silver lining" would be found to every cloud. Physicians and cler- gymen were usually blessed with longevity, largely due to the fact that they cul- tivate cheerfulness to encourage the sick and desponding. Elijah found the world better than he expected. Instead of being the only one left to serve God-7,0 ,000 persons had not bowed their knees to Baal. Paul had g better spirit "Though cast down he was not destroyed" Notwithstanding David's gloom twice he cries out in the chapter from which our text is taken, "Hope thou in God.'' This hope cheered Israelites in the wilderness, gave steadiness of purpose to Daniel and gladdened the hearts of the Hebrew children amid the flames of the fiery furnace "If the heavens were bow, earth the cord, all disasters aud plaques the arrows and God the archer" said heathen philoso- pher, ssI would fly to the bosom of the archer for safety" This the Christian especially comprehends and cheerfully sings. "Rock of ages cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee."
 Our days of joy outnumber those of sor- row. For every winter there dawns spring, for each night day, for every storm weeks of unbroken calm and eloudless skies, for every secret and stealthy foe numberless friends who never desert us even in the dark est hour Hence Paul says: EI beseeeh you by the mercies of God that you present your bodies living sacrifice wholly acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service" Habakkuk centuries before him exclaimed: Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall the fruit be in the vines, the labor of the olive shall fail and the f1ocks shall yield no meat, the flock shall be cut off from the fold and there shall be no herd in the stalls, yet will rejoice in the Lord; will joy in the rock of my salvation"
 Final victory for the Christian with such a confidence is beyond the possibility of g failure. Each trial will prove to be but 8 stepping stone to 8 nobler Christian life and to the promised reward that awaits the fsith- full.
 1.-The night is mother of the day,
 The winter of the spring;
 And ever upon old decay
 The greenest moses spring"
 Frederick Douglas, once slave informs us that, half starved, he often fought with the house dog to secure the bone to satisfy his hunger. On the plantation he continually hummed negro melody beginning:
 "Run to Jesus, shun the danger
 don't expect to stay much longer here"
 This was the first suggestion of freedom to him. His master thought he meant heaven, but he had fixed his eye on the north star. Finally liberty was hls and Frederick Doug las was ours.
 Liberty from gloom and all sin God prom ises to us. Unlike the plantation master, he urges us to fly for our lives, and to start this very hour.